that's what they should have down. the latest "washington post" poll shows for the first time, mitt romney is slightly better regarded on the question of who will do better leading the economy over the next four years than the president? that's through no good offices of mitt romney on his own. that's in spite of what mitt romney has done. >> howard, we have heard so much about the disgruntled folks within the romney/ryan camp. the way it's unfolding in the polls is not good. there's a report that says that romney is beginning to lose donors who were shifting their money to house and senate races. what's going on here? is this starting to take its toll on the campaign? >> yes. in many ways, what mitt romney's challenge is on wednesday night is to stop the bleeding within his own party and within his own camp. absolutely. behind the scenes, republicans are very worried. some are saying so publically. if mitt romney doesn't reassure them within the first half hour of the debate, they are goners. now you're seeing already